Family says Capitán the German shepherd mix refuses to leave cemetery

A widow in Argentina said she knew the bond between their family dog and her late husband was strong, but she never expected Capitán the German shepherd mix to stoically stand watch over his grave every day since his passing six years ago.

Veronica Guzman told LaVoz that her husband, Miguel Guzman, adopted Capitán in 2005 as a gift for their son. But that it was Miguel who formed the best friendship with him.

Guzman said when Miguel died in 2006, the dog ran away from home and they were unable to locate him. Not long after, she said she visited Miguel's resting site at the cemetery with her son, Damien, and found Capitán there guarding his master's grave.

"We searched for him, but he had vanished," Guzman told the newspaper. "We thought he must have got run over and died. The following Sunday we went to the cemetery, and Damian recognized his pet. Capitán came up to us, barking and wailing as if he were crying."

According to LaVoz, Guzman said she has no clue how the dog could have found the cemetery, or her husband's gravesite since no one had taken him there before.

Officials at the cemetery said Capitán just showed up one day six years ago and has never left.

"During the day he sometimes has a walk around the cemetery, but always rushes back to the grave. And every day, at 6 o'clock sharp, he lies down on top of the grave, stays there all night," Cemetery director Hector Baccega said.

According to Baccega, Capitán seems determined to stand his post, so the cemetery staff has taken to feeding and caring for the loyal canine sentinel as best they can.

Damian told the newspaper that, "I've tried to bring Capitan home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery. I think he's going to be there until he dies too. He's looking after my dad."